Harness-operating mechanism for looms.



No. 685,992. Patented Nov. 5, 190i.

F. LACEY. HARNESS OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

(Application filed may 28, 1901.)

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No. 685,992. Patented Nov. 5, IBM.

F. LAGEY.

HARNESS OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

(Application filed May 23; 1901.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 685,992. Patented Nov. 5, MIL. F. LACEY.

HARNESS OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

(Application filed May 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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No. 685,992. Patented Nov. 5, 19m.

F. LACEY.

HARNESS OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

(Application med May 23, 1961.

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(No Model.)

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No. 685,992. Patented Nov. 5, |9 0|.

F. LACEY. HARNESS OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LODMS.

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No. 685,992. Patented Nov. 5, Mil.

F. LACEY HARNESS OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

(Application filed May 23, 1901.)

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' ond embodiment of the invention.

FRED LACEY, OF VALLEYFIELD, CANADA.

HARNESS-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,992, dated November5, 1901.

Application filed May 23, 1901.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED LAOEY, a citizen of the United States, residingat Valleyiield, in the county of Beauharnois, Province of Quebec,Dominion of Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Harness-Operating Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The objects of the invention are to produce a simple and practicalconstruction of harness frame operating mechanism especially adapted tobe employed in the production of regular weaves and also to produce aconstruction admitting of readily being changed from one such weave toanother.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in front elevationharness-frame-operating mechanism for looms containing one embodiment ofthe invention. Fig. 2 shows the same in end elevation. Fig. 3 shows thesame in plan. Fig. 4 is a View showing in elevation a sec- Fig. 5 showsa third embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment ofthe invention. Figs. 7 to let show different segment-gears, such as maybe employed in'producing the different weaves; and Figs. 7 a to let arediagrams illustrative of the corresponding weaves.

Having reference to the drawings, only such parts are shown in the saiddrawings as are necessary to a proper understanding of the constructionand mode of operation of the devices actually embodying the invention.

1 1, 820., are the harness-frames of the series employed in a loom, 2 2is the harnesscording connected with the said harness frames, and 3 3,&c., are the sheaves over which the said cording passes and by which thecording is guided and supported.

In connection with the series of harnessframes 1 1, &c., I employ aseries of driven wheels or pinions, respectively having'connectionswhereby to transmit motion to the respective harness-frames, and aseries of rotating toothed drivers engaging with said driven wheels orpinions to rotate the latter, the said driven wheels or pinions andtoothed drivers rotating on axes which normally are fixed in positionrelative to each other. The

Serial No. 61,510. (No model.)

driven wheels or pinions of the illustrated embodiments of the inventionare designated a a, &c., and the said toothed drivers are designated 1)b, &c. The driven wheels or pinions a a, the. are independentlyrotatable. The toothed drivers I) b, &c., are fast upon a shaft 1),which is mounted in suitable bearings on the framework and driven fromone of the loom-shafts through suitable motiontransmitting connections.Herein for. purposes of illustration I have shown the camshaft 0provided with a bevel-pinion c, meshing with a bevel-gear c on anupright shaft 0 the latter carrying also a second bevelgear 0 in meshwith a bevel'gear c on the shaft 1).

The relative rate at which the shaft Z) is driven in practice isdetermined by the l1l1i11- ber of picks in the pattern or weave which isrequired to be produced. The said shaft will be caused to complete onerevolution for each repeat of the said pattern or weave or multiplethereof, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For thepurpose of enabling the said relative rate to be made to correspond withthe requirements of a particular weave suitable provision will be madein connection with the motion-transmitting gearing. Any well-known orsuitable ratechanging device may be employed. In the case of theillustrated arrangement it is contemplated that the gears c and 0 shallbe change-gears and shall be replaced whenever a change in the weaverequires a change in the relative rate of movement of the shaft 1).

The character of the connections with which thedriv'en wheels or pinionsare provided for transmitting motion to the respective har mess-framesmay vary in practice. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 each of said driven wheels orpin ions has fast therewith an eccentric a and the latter works Within aslot on, which is formed within one arm of a harnesslever (1 the saidharness-lever having the harnesscording 2 connected therewith. In thepresent instance the cording extending from the top and bottom bars of agiven harness-frame is connected with the opposite extremities of thecorresponding harness-lever, and thereby the harness-frame is operatedpositively in both directions. Other arrangements of the cording, &c.,may be adopted in practice.

As each driven wheel or pinion a is rotated the eccentric connectedtherewith swings the corresponding harness-lever, and thereby occasionsthe required movements of the harness-frame. A half-revolution of thedriven wheel or pinion and eccentric raises the harness-frame to liftits wartrthreads into the upper plane of the shed, and the succeedinghalf-revolution, thereof lowers the harnessframe to carry the saidwarp-threads into the lower plane of the shed.

In some embodiments of the invention each driven wheel or pinion ct hasconnected therewith a cam for operating the harness-lever or otherdevice to which the harness-cording is connected. Thus in Fig. 4 I haveshown the driven wheel or pinion a as having fast therewith one form ofcam, as a, which may be employed, the same being what is sometimestermed a three-faced eccentric and being arranged to work within theslot at of the harness-lever a Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of theinvention in which the driven wheel or pinion ais furnished with acrank-pin of, which is connected by a rod a with one of the arms of thecorresponding harness-levers.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the driven wheel orpinion a is furnished with a crank-pin or to which latter is applied orconnected a rod or bar a having the harness-cording 2 2 connected withits upper and lower ends.

In the rotation of the shaft 1) the teeth of the toothed drivers I) Z),&c., engage with the driven wheels or pinions a (L, the. for the purposeof actuating the latter and moving the harness-frames which are inoperative connection therewith. The precise form or character of thedriver and of the driven wheels or pinions and the manner of theirengagement with each other may be varied in practice. Preferably thedrivers are provided with teeth arranged in segmental series at oradjacent the peripheries thereof, the segments of the respective driversbeing set or arranged around the axis of the shaft b, with such a leadrelatively to one another as to cause them to engage with and actuatethe respective driven wheels or pinions in the order that is necessaryfor the production of the sequence of movements of the harnessframesthat is required for the desired weave. The manner in which the saidsegments are arranged in practice for the purpose of causing them to actin the required alternation or succession is indicated most clearly inFig. 2 of the drawings.

The arrangement ofteeth upon each toothed driver 6 will depend upon thecharacter of the movements which the corresponding harness-frame isrequired to have given thereto. Throughout such portion of the tootheddriver I) as corresponds with the dwell of the harness-frame in eitherposition, up or down, the said driver is toothless, and consequently solong as such portion is presented to the corresponding driven wheel orpinion during the rotation of the driver the said wheel or pinion andthe harness-frame that is operated therefrom are permitted to remainmotionless. The driver may be furnished with one or more detached seriesof teeth, each comprising the number of teeth proper for moving thecorresponding harness-frame from one position in shedding to another andoperating to shift the said harness-frame after intervals of restcorresponding with the introduction of two or more picks, or two suchseries may be arranged in close succession, so as to act to shift theharness-frame into one position for a given pick and then shift it to adifferent position for the next succeeding pick. This latter arrangementis shown, for instance, in Fig. 1. Should it be desired to provide fordwells of the harness-frame at the time of the different picks,toothless spaces or blanks may be left on the driver at the portionsthereof corresponding with the time for the picks, as at a (0 00 inFigs. 1 and 4. In many of the figures of the drawings the times of thevarious picks are indicated graphically by dotted radial lines on thetoothed drivers. In Figs. 1 and 4 the blank a at the beginning of thefirst series of teeth of the driver provides for a dwell correspondingwith the time of one pick preceding the first change in position of theharness-frame. The blank at (0 provides for a dwell of the harness-framein its new position during the next pick, and the blank at 00 providesfor a dwell during the pick immediately succeeding the second change ofposition of the harness-frame, or the dwell of the harness-frame may besecured wholly by the shape, &c., of the motion-transmittingconnections-as, for instance, it is secured in Fig. 4: by employing aso-called three-face eccentric a.

InFigs. 1 to 6 for the purpose of locking the driven wheels or pinionswhen they are not required to turn each thereof is furnished with a diskat, having concavities 0t a to receive the convex portion of theperiphery of the disk 6 fast with the driver I). In practice the driversI) b are removably secured upon their shaft 1) and are replaced Whenevernecessary for the purpose of varying the weave in the same manner as iscustomary with the shedding-cams employed in other forms ofharness-operatin g mechanism. Figs. 7 to 14 illustrate the forms oftoothed drivers which are employed in the production of the weaves whichare represented by the accompanying diagrams, Figs. 7 to 14. Fig. 7shows a three-harness gear, making one revolution to three picks at, cc,and m of the loom. For the pick at a: the harness-frame is raisedthrough the engagement of segment y of the driver with the driven wheel.It is depressed for the pick at so through the engagement of segment yof the driver with the driven wheel and remains down for the pick at 00while the plain portion :1 of the driver IIO is presented to the drivenwheel, thereby making the weave one up and two down, as in the diagramFig. 7 Fig. 8 shows a fourharness gear, making one revolution to fourpicks or at x a For the pick at the harness-frame is raised through theengagement of segment '31 of the driver with the driven wheel. It isdepressed for the pick at or through the action of segment 1 and itremains down for the two picks m and 00 while the plain portion of thedriver is presented to the driven wheel, thereby making the weave one upand three down, as in the diagram Fig. 8. Fig. 9 shows a four-harnessgear, making one revolution to four picks on 00 00 For the pick at a:the harness-frame is raised'through the engagement of segment 11 of thedriver with the driven wheel. It

remains at rest while plain portion g of the driver is presented to thedriven wheel and until after pick on. It is depressed for the pick at 09through the engagement of the segment with the driven gear, and remainsat rest until after pick 00 while plain segment y is passing the drivenwheel, thereby making the weave two up and two down, as represented inthe diagram Fig. 9. and 11 show five-harness gears, making onerevolution to five picks and producing the respective weaves which arerepresented in the diagrams shownin Figs. 10 and 11. Fig. 10 shows aweave of one up and four down, and Fig. 11 shows a weave of two up andthree down. Figs. 12 and 13 show six-harness gears arranged to produce,respectively, the weave of one up and five down that is Figs. -10

represented in Fig. 12 and of three up and three down that isrepresented in Fig. 13. Fig. 14 shows a driver making one revolution insix picks of the loom, but employed for three-harness work and producingthe same weave of one up and two down (shown in Fig. 143) as the driverof Fig. 7.

What I claim is- 1. In shedding mechanism for looms, in combination, theseries of driven wheels respectively having operative connection withthe respective harness-frames of a loom, and the toothed driversrotating as a series and respectively engaging with said driven wheelsto rotate the latter, the said driven wheels and toothed driversrotating on axes which normally are fixed in position relative to eachother.

2. In shedding mechanism for looms, in combination, the series ofindependently-rotatable driven wheels respectively having connectionswhereby to transmit motion to the respective harness-frames of a loom,and the segment-drivers rotating as a series and respectively engagingwith said driven wheels to rotate the latter in the required sequence,the said driven wheels and drivers rotating on axes which normally arefixed in position relative to each other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED LAOEY. \Vitnesses:

OHAs. F. RANDALL, ARTHUR F. RANDALL.

